FAA proposes $211,000 fine against Alaska Air

The FAA said the damage occurred on a March 30, 1999, flight, after pilots of an MD-80 jet got an ''unsafe landing gear'' indication on their control panel. They completed the landing with the main landing gear doors extended, which damaged a landing gear door skid plate.

The plate should have been replaced immediately, the FAA said. Instead, the airline flew the plane 47 times before replacing it.

The airline violated rules by flying the plane without technical data showing it was safe to fly with the damaged plate, the FAA said. It also said that the airline failed to prepare required airworthiness paperwork for those flights.

The airline has 30 days to respond.

Alaska has 30 days to respond to the proposed fine.

The Seattle-based carrier issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying that ''this is a proposed fine. The FAA will make a final determination after a thorough review of all the facts associated with the incident.''